Arsenal: Thomas Lemar shows he’s the worst of the necessary

Thomas Lemar was a little underwhelming in France’s 3-2 win over England. While he is still a necessary signing for Arsenal, he is the worst of the rumoured options.

While it is still very early days in the summer transfer window, the movement that was promised from Arsene Wenger and the club has yet to be seen. Arsenal did add Sead Kolasinac on a free transfer earlier in June. However, the expectation of the fans is the addition of a number of established, big name players. That is yet to be seen.

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There have been a number of links and rumoured names, potential offers and reported approaches made. But, in the end, none of the necessary signings to prove the ambition that was spouted by Ivan Gazidis and Stan Kroenke have not walked through the Emirates door.

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Of the names that have circled through the media, many have focused on the influx of young French talent of recent years. The most prominent names to be rumoured are Thomas Lemar, Kylian Mbappe and Alexandre Lacazette, and according to a variety of different reports, Arsenal are seemingly interested in bringing at least one of the trio in this summer.

In fact, a report from The Telegraph claims that Wenger is pondering the possibility of undergoing an attacking overhaul, amid fears that Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are on their way out, by making approaches for all three of the enormously talented Frenchmen. While there is reason to doubt the validity of the report, it would still be remiss of me, as a writer and commenter, to not give my opinion on the three different options.

Of the three, if Arsenal were only to sign one of them, disregarding the price tag, then my preference, as I believe most people’s would be, is Kylian Mbappe. The 18-year-old is a generational talent who could singlehandedly revolutionise the prospects of a whole club. However, with talent comes competition, and the chances of being able to sign the Monaco sensation are extremely slim.

That leaves his teammate, Lemar, and Lyon striker Lacazette. The latter is the more polished, accomplished of the two, with the far superior goalscoring record and experience. He also plays in a position of greater need for the Gunners. Lemar, meanwhile, while an extremely talented player, does not boast the consistent success of Lacazette, nor the overwhelming talent of Mbappe.

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Of the three, he is the worst option to pursue. And yet, he is still a necessary signing. Arsenal must make the type of additions that prove their ambition. Lemar, while not being the best of the bunch, would still qualify as such a signing.